Vegan bars — heck, any bars — can be hit and miss. Some are glorified candy bars, while others taste like they dipped a piece of bark in bit of carob. So, we decided to put a bunch to the test and finally figure out what the best bars out there are. Or at least which ones we happen to like the best.
So we set up a blind taste test, the contestants scored each one on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being a complete dud and 5 quite the exceptional chocolate experience. The only guidelines were that the bar needed to be vegan (naturally), predominantly chocolate for this first round (next week we’ll taste test all the fruity ones), and less than $3. Even $3 was pushing it, but there were several on the market for as much as $5. In a stroke of good luck, many of these were on sale.
Some proposed that they were an entire meal. If you ask me there are only a few dire circumstances under which a bar becomes a meal: the apocalypse, earthquake preparedness kits and some extreme backpacking scenario. I do implore you to read the ingredients thoroughly. I’m still not entirely certain a non-vegan ingredient didn’t slip by me. One of the big offenders is honey. It’s unfortunate a lot of these companies don’t make the switch out to a vegan-friendly sweetener. Seems so simple, right? Perhaps in my free time I’ll start a petition. In the meantime, watch out for honey.
Check back in next week for our review of the fruity bar varieties!
And if you decide to buck corporate (and not-so-corporate) America, check out our post on Making Your Own Bars.
1. Kit's Organic Fruit and Nut Bar by Cliff, Chocolate Almond Coconut
Highly Recommended
Winner, Best Tasting
Taste Score: 4.625
Calories: 190
Protein: 4g
Sugar: 15g
Fiber: 5g
Gluten Free: Yes
Additional Merits: Limited ingredients, Soy-Free, Organic
Comments: Brownie-esque. Rich chocolate, nice texture, like a nutty brownie. Moist, coconut taste. Smooth, not overly sweet.
Link to Kit's Organic Fruit and Nut Bar by Cliff, Chocolate Almond Coconut
2. Zing, Dark Chocolate Hazelnut
Highly Recommended
Winner, Kid's Pick
Taste Score: 4.5
Calories: 220
Protein: 10g
Sugar: 13g
Fiber: 5g
Gluten Free: Yes
Comments: Sweet, nice chocolate coating. Like a candy bar, tasty chocolate coating that didn't melt or get on your fingers. High protein is a big plus.
Link to Zing, Dark Chocolate Hazelnut
3. Lärabar, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip
Recommended
Taste Score: 3.75
Calories: 220
Protein: 6g
Sugar: 19g
Fiber: 3g
Gluten Free: Yes
Additional Merits: Limited ingredients, Non-GMO
Comments: Candy-like, strong peanut butter flavor and definitely on the sweeter side. Kinda higher in sugar.
Link to Lärabar, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip
4. Health Warrior, Chocolate Peanut Butter
Recommended
Taste Score: 3.375
Calories: 100
Protein: 4g
Sugar: 4g
Fiber: 4g
Gluten Free: Yes
Additional Merits: Soy-Free, Omega-3 (1,000 mg) and Omega-6 (810 mg)
Comments: Mild flavor, light, and crispy. A little dry, but nice texture. The perfect size for traveling light and a good low calorie, low sugar, high fiber option with all the benefits of chia.
Link to Health Warrior, Chocolate Peanut Butter
5. Pure Organic, Chocolate Brownie Bar
Recommended
Taste Score: 3.375
Calories: 190
Protein: 6g
Sugar: 16g
Fiber: 4g
Gluten Free: Yes
Additional Merits: Limited ingredients, Non-GMO, Organic
Comments: Light chocolate, dense bar. Not as rich as #1. Similar to the other limited ingredient bars in taste and texture.
Link to Pure Organic, Chocolate Brownie Bar
6. GoMacro, Sunflower Butter and Chocolate
Taste Score: 3.0
Calories: 260
Protein: 10g
Sugar: 10g
Fiber: 1g
Gluten Free: Yes
Additional Merits: Macrobiotic, Organic, Non-GMO
Comments: Bland, but good texture. Very chewy, so-so, tastes high fiber but has almost none. Excellent for protein.
Link to GoMacro, Sunflower Butter and Chocolate
7. Amazing Grass, Green Superfood Chocolate Whole Food Energy Bar
Taste Score: 2.875
Calories: 230
Protein: 5g
Sugar: 27g
Fiber: 4g
Gluten Free: Yes
Additional Merits: Fair Trade, Cold Processed, Alkaline, Superfood Power, Organic
Comments: Chewy, strong fruit taste. A bit like a raisin. Hardly any chocolate taste.
Link to Amazing Grass, Green Superfood Chocolate Whole Food Energy Bar
8. Keen-wäh Decadence, Organic Cayenne Cinnamon
Taste Score: 2.5
Calories: 198
Protein: 5g
Sugar: 8g
Fiber: 4g
Gluten Free: Yes
Additional Merits: Organic, Non-GMO, Omega-3 (500mg)
Comments: Messy, spicy, good crunchy texture. Maybe a little too spicy if you were going to eat the whole bar.
Link to Keen-wäh Decadence, Organic Cayenne Cinnamon
9. Keen-wäh Decadence, Organic Coconut Almond
Taste Score: 2.5
Calories: 198
Protein: 5g
Sugar: 8g
Fiber: 4g
Gluten Free: Yes
Additional Merits: Organic, Non-GMO, Omega-3 (500mg)
Comments: I like the idea of quinoa, but just too darn messy. Super melty. Awkward fruit and chocolate mixed flavor, but moist.
Link to Keen-wäh Decadence, Organic Coconut Almond
10. gnu Foods, Chocolate Brownie Bar
Taste Score: 2.375
Calories: 140
Protein: 4g
Sugar: 9g
Fiber: 12g
Gluten Free: No
Additional Merits: High Fiber, Non-GMO
Comments: Dense, chocolatey, fibery. Too dry. This bar ranked lowest in our taste test, but we eat these all the time when we travel. Super high in fiber, not too many calories and very filling.
Link to gnu Foods, Chocolate Brownie Bar
samhradh
I'm a Pro Bar fan but they're out of the price range for this taste test. After trying a couple of the Clif Kit's I agree they are my favorite ones on the market! I prefer the berry and cashew varieties, though.
Well Vegan
@samhradh - I'll definitely watch for the Pro Bar. Maybe our next bar challenge will be the dream bar challenge - no budgets, just the best bar rising to the top!
Erin
I won a box of the keen wah bars and I really liked them, especially the chocolate coconut ones.
John
I really like the Chocolate, Almond Coconut Clif Bar. The magical powers of coconut! The bar also has a good make-up for on-the-go eating--doesn't melt or get messy. Thanks for the reviews. It's always nice when the choices are narrowed down a bit.
Well Vegan
@John - Those are so good! And always a plus not to get messy.